The Best In Men's Eyeglasses

Your 101 Guide To Buying The Perfect Glasses For Your Face Shape

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Name the things you’d never leave the house without. Your Explorer? Your Phillips boots? Your mobile? What about man’s most under appreciated accessory: eyeglasses? If you’re among the 60 per cent in the developed world that rely on specs to see, those too will be on your list. And for good reason. If you need them, they are the biggest statement piece you’ll wear today or any that follows.

When it comes to picking a pair, like sunglasses, glasses should generally match the personality of the wearer, say many in the eyewear industry who spend their days designing them. Be it in our careers or in relationships, we often gravitate towards frames that, intentionally or not, define our personality and style. But with literally millions of frames available, choice has left many guys wearing frames that simply don’t fit their face. Or their lifestyles.

From several in the industry who work at helping you see and look better, their opinions on finding the right glasses for your face. An essential accessory you’ll want to pick right.

It Starts With The Face. Or Does It?

Buying glasses is like buying a diamond. You have to know what you’re looking at. Eyeglasses are primarily manufactured on a large scale by monopolies, which has made spotting quality frames difficult. Hinges, acetate-types, country of origin, lense types and treatments. Some diligence on your part is required. Before you think frame shapes, get a handle on the caliber of the materials used - what’s injected in the acetate or metal type used for a frame, for example - and how they are manufactured. It will speak to a frame’s design, longevity and comfort. And ultimately will translate directly into how much you enjoy wearing them.

Next, you’ll want to narrow it down to a couple quality brands - we like Cutler and Gross, Garrett Leight, and Proof, amongst others - to understand which shapes best suit your face - an approach that, based on our discussions, is almost ubiquitously used across the industry. This step however isn’t always necessary, says the CEO of an Australian frame manufacturer. The right frame, he says, is more about personality, self-esteem and self-confidence.

“The classically stated face shapes - round, oval, square, rectangular, heart - are a rather sympathetic and imperfectly accurate approach to the appraisal of a face shape,” explains Dr. Nathan Orbach, founder of Australian-based glasses startup, Soleurs. “Actually, the whole concept of the “right” frame is a misconception altogether. It’s generally based on human subjective judgement and taste rather than on the science of facial morphology.”

For Orbach, the first step to picking frames is to ignore convention, similar to how you’d define your personal style with clothing. By interpreting rules, then bending them. “One should wear what one takes a liking to and suits them depending on mood, outfit, weather, or occasion.” Others in the industry however say that for first-time wearers, face shapes will be a useful place to start. And just as importantly, they say, is your ability to think about juxtaposition during the try-on process.

“Frames that are too small will make a face look wider and frames that are too big can diminish facial features,” says Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and co-CEO of privately-owned Warby Parker. “When you’re looking straight on, frames should not hang off the side of your face - nor should the temples be visible from the front (which means the frames are too narrow).

Over email, Blumenthal explains how guys should have fun and enjoy the experience of wearing glasses, which is clear if you’ve ever bought frames on their site. He explains how it’s best to think in terms of complementary shapes. “Rounder frames for angular faces, angles and edges for rounder faces.” Finding a shape that’s the opposite of your “face” will balance you out and look best. Ultimately, he adds, the most important tip is to find frames that “click” - and you’ll only know them when they’re sitting squarely on your face.

How To Buy Specs Online Right The First Time

Glasses on. Glasses off. Do these look good? Are they my style? What about these horn-rims? Are they really made of horn? Is that what I want? What about these? Better. Still not perfect. How much time have I been in here? Does this person have any idea what they’re talking about? Do I like the pair I just bought?

Buying glasses doesn’t need to be like this. Especially if you do it online. Virtual try-ons such as Soleurs' fitting room, videos and face shape-based guides have made the process dead easy, if you’re willing to invest a little effort, which you should. They help you see, after all, making them the most important accessory you’ll wear today. And they sit right in the middle of your face.

There’s a lot of detail about frames online. Read it.

“When you shop for glasses online,” explains Sylvianne Chauveau, optical marketing manager for Oakley, “it’s important to think first about how you’ll use your glasses, which product descriptions should make clear.”

Ah, yes, product descriptions. That chunk of text that interrupts the pictures. Before you click “buy” on your new frames, it helps to read these. It also helps to ask yourself how you’ll use your glasses, says Oakley. Do the two line up? Office? Gym? Meetings? All three? One pair rarely does it all. And in an era of hyper customization, there’s likely a type (or material) that best matches how you’re living, so do little reading.

Runners, for example, will A) probably want contacts, and B) a lightweight frame (same goes for their shades, too). If you need glasses for distance only, style and durability will be priorities (try titanium or titanium alloys). Almost all sites give you ample product details that’ll help you decide if sustainable wood frames, for example, match your needs or if grilamid - popular with POC’s performance frames for their flexibility and resiliency - are more your speed.

Exploit Home Try-Ons And Free Shipping Offers.

SmartBuyGlasses and Warby Parker (others, too) have invested heavily to make buying glasses online more tangible. Both offer either virtual or in-home try ons and free shipping to help you see what frames look good on before buying. Take advantage. You’re likely buying most of your stuff online anyway and know all about return labels. When they arrive, have someone around to tell you if they fit your face and personal style.

YouTube does a decent job describing frame features, too, like sizes and materials (again, used by most sites). It’s easier to absorb information this way and better than having that same information hurled at you in person. A little brand recon is a couple keystrokes away when you shop online, important if you want to dig deeper on which sustainability and social issues the brand stands behind, if any.

Online + Offline Commerce. You Can Have It All.

Sometimes actually trying on a pair of frames is the only way to know they’ll fit. Narrowing it down to what kinds of frames might fit your face (and your lifestyle), can be done at home. Warby Parker allows you to “favorite” frames you see online, then through customer profiles, access those frames in-store in-person without waiting, blending the best of physical and digital shopping experiences.

It need not be complex, say most. Merely a matter of knowing what to look for.

Shopping For Glasses In Person

Not everyone will nail fit and form shopping for specs online making a trip to an actual store necessary. If you’re new to glasses or unsure what it is you’re after, this can be useful. You’ll get a sense of styles and be able to solicit the opinions of others while you’ve got them sitting on your face. Try on as many as you can stomach. From here, you should understand which types suit your face and your personal style - invaluable insights you can then apply online.

Get A Handle On The Caliber Of The Materials Used

From titanium to acetates, as you wade into the world of prescription eyewear you’ll soon realize there’s a litany of frame material to choose from. Most are purpose-built, so consider each before you narrow down your options. Acetates are the boldest, biggest and most colourful of the bunch. If it’s a statement piece you’re hunting for, stick with those. They’re typically a cost-effective, creative option. Sticking with plastics, nylons are also widely used, but are more commonly found in sport-specific sunglasses. Debatable if you’ll want these for daily wear.

When it comes to metals, stainless steel, flexon, and titanium are all commonly used materials. Specifically with titanium, they are the most malleable, lightweight and corrosion-resistant. If you’re buying for longevity, go with those. Increasingly horn and wood are also being used to make specs, which, on account of their uniqueness, may also appeal.

Picking A Pair

When it comes time to trying on, the key, says SmartBuyGlasses’ David Menning, one of company’s three co-founders, is to go for shapes that counter-balance your face, a sentiment we hear echoed by many in the industry, Oakley, POC, Warby Parker and Soleurs, among them. Guideposts, especially if you’re buying glasses online, be it based on personal taste or face type, will get you frames that fit. Here, his list of do’s and don’ts for picking a new pair of specs:

If you have a square face:

Do – Pick frames that add curves and softness to the face. Pilot and round shapes are a great pick.Don’t – Go for boxy, square or rectangular frames as they will only add in angles and throw your face out of proportion.

EyeBuyDirect Amber Tortoise

If your face is oval shaped:

Do – Be bold. You can experiment with unusual shapes and colors.Don’t – Pick a pair that throws off the natural perfection of your face.

EyeBuyDirect Symmetry Striped

This handsome pair is a popular and goes-with-anything style for those of you who have won to face shape lottery: classic square frames that come in 5 different colours.$99.00 at EyeBuyDirect.com

If you have a heart-shaped face:

Do – Pick a frame that takes attention away from the forehead. Pilot shapes are great for this or anything that sits wider than the face.Don’t – Pick a small pair of glasses. They will only make your face appear larger than it is.

EyeBuyDirect Bandon

These glasses fit the bill: a rectangular frame to balance a pointed chin, and a rounded top to add length to the brow line for a slender face shape.$9.00 at EyeBuyDirect.com

Whichever you end up with, remember that glasses trends change quickly, however that doesn’t mean yours need to. Classically flattering frames, for example, in a neutral colour or tortoiseshell, are almost always a solid pick. Something you won’t regret seeing in 5 years’ time on your Instagram. And having worn glasses for years - including many pairs from J. Lindeberg - it’s best to pick from styles and materials that have endured. There’s a reason why Wayfarers and 50’s era frames still look good. Choose right and you’ll wear yours just as long.

Mark Cohen has held strong opinions about style and sport since the start of his writing career. This has only worsened over time. He is a contributing writer to AskMen currently living in Cambridge, U.K. Connect with him on Instagram or Twitter @mcohensays.

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